The Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) has raised concerns over foreign interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, stressing that the country’s sovereignty must be respected.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday at the council’s annual pre-Ramadan lecture and general assembly, themed “Nigeria’s Future: Faith, Justice and Leadership”, SCSN President, Bashir Umar, opposed any attempts to establish foreign military bases on Nigerian soil. He also reaffirmed that the religious freedom of Muslims in Nigeria is constitutionally guaranteed and non-negotiable.

Umar’s remarks come in the wake of Nigeria’s redesignation as a “country of particular concern” by US President Donald Trump over allegations of Christian genocide.

The cleric said the council has intensified advocacy for peaceful reconciliation as a key pillar of non-kinetic peacebuilding, particularly in response to the nation’s growing insecurity and terrorism challenges.

He added that the council unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms, emphasizing that every human life, whether Muslim or Christian, is sacred and inviolable.

Umar urged the government to fully uphold its constitutional responsibility to protect the lives, property, and dignity of all Nigerians without discrimination.

He also warned against misleading narratives portraying Nigeria’s security challenges as genocide against any religion or group, stressing that such claims could worsen mistrust and polarisation in the country.

“The council categorically rejects premeditated false and inflammatory propaganda of a ‘Christian genocide’ narrative and warns that dishonest public discourse fuels division, mistrust, and national instability,” Umar said.

He called for honesty, balance, and responsibility in public discourse to safeguard national stability, while urging the government to complement security measures with peaceful reconciliation initiatives that support aggrieved victims.